Head restraint for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a head restraint for vehicles of any kind with a support with upholstery portion. The head restraint is comprised of two detachably connected half shells which have collectors for receiving and collecting light, corresponding solar modules for conversion of the light into electrical energy, and storage elements for storing this energy. The half shell of the head restraint, arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, has a frame for receiving a detachable component for various purposes, such as an illuminated vanity mirror, a screen, or the like. Within a second removable component, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with a hydrogen cartridge can be provided for additional energy generation.

[0001] The invention relates to head restraints for vehicles of any kind. They are usually arranged so that they can be easily extended from the back rest of vehicle seats and adjusted with regard to their height. The head restraints are comprised of—for example—tubular supports with an upholstery portion in the area that is provided for resting the head of the passenger. This area can be comprised of two half shells made of plastic material onto which an upholstery cover is applied (DE 34 17 872 A1).

[0002] The invention has the object to develop such a head restraint such that it not only provides the conventional protection of the head and—indirectly—of the spine but additionally can generate electrical energy within and outside of the vehicle.

[0003] Based on the aforementioned known head restraint the invention for solving this object limits the head contact onto the central area of the head restraint which can be, for example, formed by a net (DE 197 33 030 C1) which upon a rear end collision is torn by an airbag which then takes over the protective function. The size of the normal head restraint, in general, serves only for ensuring that the passenger is comfortable in different seat positions, optionally also when resting, so that the head restraint area outside of the central area is used only infrequently. However, in order to ensure at the same time the stability of the entire head restraint, each head restraint half shell according to the invention has in its interior a reinforcing plastic frame which is configured such that outside of the supporting central area of the head restraint half shell, positioned forwardly in the travel direction, it contains collectors for receiving and collecting light as well as for light propagation to solar modules for light conversion into electrical energy which is stored in storage elements of a known type, in particular, embodied according to thin-film element technology. The head restraint half shell, rearwardly positioned in the travel direction, is in principle of the same configuration and contains in addition a frame for a removable component to be used for different purposes. Further advantageous details of the head restraint configuration according to the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0004] The invention will be described and explained in the following by means of one embodiment wherein the configuration possibilities of the individual parts are left to the person skilled in the art. It is shown in:

[0005]FIG. 1a cross-section of the head restraint according to the invention according to the section line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0006]FIG. 2a cross-section of the head restraint according to the invention according to the section line B-B of FIG. 1;

[0007]FIG. 3 shows a fuel cell BC underneath the vehicle seat.

[0008] The head restraint is comprised of a half shell 1, forwardly arranged in the travel direction, and a half shell 2, rearwardly arranged in the travel direction, in particular, made of reinforced plastic material, for example, manufactured as a blow-molded part which are detachably connected to one another at their facing edges. This connection 4 is however so stable—for example, by means of arrangement and/or type of a screw connection, a snap connection or the like—that it does not impair the task of a head restraint, for example, in the case of a rear end collision and, moreover, does not present a risk for the passengers. Each half shell 1, 2 has in its interior of a plastic cage 6 for receiving fluorescent collectors Fluk® 8 (of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft) or fluorescent connections according to EP 0 046 861 B1 whose size and shape are determined by the designer taking into account the respective conditions. In addition to the central upholstery portion (not illustrated) for the head of the passenger and the support 3 provided in different embodiments, possibly also in the “fashionable” form of a hole which is covered by a net, in the form of an airbag or the like, the surface facing in the travel direction of the forward head restraint half shell 1 has in the laterally adjoining half shell parts, apart from the space for the collectors 8, space for the solar modules 10 and the energy storage device 12 on the lateral and/or lower edge.

[0009] The head restraint half shell 2, arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, has—in particular in the central portion—a frame 14 within the plastic cage 6 into which a component 16 of any type can be removably positioned such that, upon rear end collision, it is easily pushed out of the rearward head restraint half shell 2 such that even a passenger seated therebehind is not injured, for example, by providing a correspondingly long strip which is fastened detachably to the head restraint. This component 16 can be, for example, a vanity mirror, illuminated by energy-saving, optionally switchable organic (OLED) and/or polymer (PLED) diodes; a screen of a TV set or for receiving data by means of integrated GMS or GPS technology; a luminous band for short information; a display of a laptop of a UMTS mobile phone and the like, which obtain the energy required for operation from solar modules 10 and energy storage devices 12 (not illustrated) of known thin-film element technology contained in the component 16. The component 16 can be covered by a lid 16 a with a snap connection which lid has on its outer side a plug connector (not illustrated) for other energy consumers as well as optionally a connector for a head set and/or microphone. Outside of the frame 14 for the component 16 the head restraint half shell 2, rearwardly arranged in the travel direction, is provided with collectors 8, solar modules 10, and energy storage devices 12 of the same type as in the forward head restraint half shell 1.

[0010] Each head restraint half shell 1, 2 is closed off within its edges by a wall 9—in particular of plastic material—which is provided in the direction toward the collectors 8 with a reflective surface in order to enhance the light collected in the collectors 8. The collectors 8 obtain light from the exterior through the (approximately) vertical and the upper narrow side as well as the outer wall surfaces of the two head restraint half shells 1, 2 which for this purpose employ either recesses in the form of holes or slots 1 a, 2 a whose numbers, size, and arrangement is to be determined by the designer, or by a light-transparent material which has a design matching that of the central portion of the forward head restraint half shell 1 as closely as possible. The “material” can be also in the form of light-transmissive colored solar modules. When using a protective cover for the head restraint, it must be dimensioned and attached such that the recesses in the head restraint half shells 1, 2 are not covered.

[0011] The light receiving surface 8 a of the collectors 8 is structured such that total reflection for the light propagating within the collectors 8 is canceled as much as possible. This light is collected and guided at the edge of the collectors to the solar modules 10 and converted therein into electrical energy which is subsequently stored in batteries, high-performance capacitors and the like 12 in thin-film element technology. The electrical connections (not illustrated) are realized, as is known in the art, for example, by means of printed circuits on the grate bars of the plastic cage 6 within the respective head restraint half shells 1, 2 as well as via a plug-in contact between the rearward head restraint half shells 1 and 2 as well as between the rearward head restraint half shell 2 and the insertable component 16.

[0012] The energy which is generated and stored in this way within the head restraint can be used, for example, for a motor for extending and retracting the head restraint, for adjusting the vehicle seat, for heating—switchable when needed—the head restraint, for adjusting the vehicle seat, for heating—switchable when needed—the head restraint by means of at least one heating wire 18, which is placed in or about the edge of the head restraint half shell, for operating light emitting diodes, as needed, for indicating the charge state of the at least one energy storage device 12, for charging a fuel cell for additionally generating electrical energy by means of an electrochemical process (mounting is possible within the head restraint half shell 2 in a second component 16′), as well as for charging other energy storage devices and actuating other consumers within and/or outside of the vehicle. Should there be insufficient mounting space for the fuel cells in the head restraint, it is possible to attach polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells below the seats or in the trunk area. By means of air channels in the vehicle seat and the head restraint, air is supplied to the fuel cells, if needed.

[0013] Like any conventional head restraint, the head restraint according to the invention can be used as an “emergency pillow” for attending to accident victims when they are pulled out of the back rest of the vehicle seat. Moreover, the head restraint according to the invention has the advantage that it can be heated without “foreign energy”.

[0014] An increase of the amount of energy that can be produced can be achieved when mirror-like disks guide additional light from the exterior onto the disks, be it manually or by a motor which can be controlled possibly automatically by a sensor.

[0015] The parts of the head restraint support which are snapped into place in the back wall can be configured in their interior for receiving energy storage devices 12 when they are tubular, in case that the space in the head restraint is insufficient. The energy storage device 12 can also be positioned as a thin-film element between the head restraint half shells 1, 2 and the solar cell 10.

[0016] Also, solar cells 10 can be mounted additionally on the opposite wall of the back rest of the vehicle seat, viewed in the travel direction; they are then actuatable only when the back seat is folded in the vehicle direction, i.e., generally only when leaving the vehicle. 

1. A head restraint for vehicles comprised of two detachably connected half shells having a tubular carrier as a bracket with two stays for securing the head restraint in the back rest of the vehicle seat, wherein the head restraint has an upholstered support for the head of the passenger, characterized in that both half shells (1, 2) in their interior contain a reinforcing plastic cage (6), in that in the half shell (1), arranged forwardly in the travel direction, the upholstered support (3) for the head of the passenger is arranged centrally, and that the two adjoining portions of the forward half shell (1) has collectors (8) for receiving and collecting light as well as for its propagation to solar modules (10) for a conversion into electrical energy which is stored in storage elements (12).
 2. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the half shell (2), arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, comprises in its plastic cage (6) a frame (14) for receiving a detachable component (16) and also collectors (8) for receiving and collecting light as well as for its propagation to solar modules (10) for a conversion into electrical energy, which is stored in storage elements (12).
 3. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the open sides of both half shells (1, 2) are closed off by a wall (9) which in the direction toward the collectors (8) has in the interior of the respective half shell (1, 2) a reflective surface in order to enhance the light collected in the collectors.
 4. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the two half shells (1, 2) and in their envelopes in the area of the collectors (8) have recesses (1 a, 2 a) in the form of holes and/or slots in order to guide light from the exterior to the collectors (8).
 5. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelopes have a light-transmissive layer in the area of the collectors (8) in order to guide light from the exterior to the collectors (8).
 6. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that solar modules (10) in the form of foils and storage elements (12) embodied according to thin-film element technology are arranged along the vertical, narrow side facing the interior of the vehicle as well as the bottom of the head restraint half shell (1,2).
 7. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that a protective cover for the head restraint is configured and arranged such that it does not impede the passage of light through the half shells (1, 2) to the collectors (8).
 8. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the head restraint half shell (2), arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, comprises a removable component (16) which, in addition to a vanity mirror illuminated by diodes and/or a screen and/or an luminous band for short information or the like, has solar modules (10) in foil shape and at least one energy storage device (12) embodied according thin-film element technology which are connectable by lines with one another and with the other energy storage devices (12) of the head restraint and with the energy consumers.
 9. The head restraint according to claim 8, characterized in that the component (16) connects by plug-in contacts the at least one energy storage device (12) provided therein with lines of the other energy storage devices (12) in the head restraint half shells (1, 2).
 10. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the component (16) is snapped into place into the frame (14) of the head restraint half shell (2), arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, such that in the case of a rear end collision it is easily pushed out of the frame (14) but remains by a detachable strip-shaped connection within the vicinity of the head restraint.
 11. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that the component (16) comprises a lid (16 a) with snap-on connector which protects the individual parts of the component (16) against damage and soiling and has at its outer surface a plug for energy supply to consumers.
 12. The head restraint according to claim 11, characterized in that the lid (16 a) of the component (16) has—in particular switchable—diodes for indicating the charge state of the energy storage devices (12) in the head restraint.
 13. The head restraint according to claim 11, characterized in that the lid (16 a) of the component (16) has a connector for a headset and/or microphone.
 14. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one head restraint half shell (1, 2) comprises a heating wire (18) about its circumference.
 15. The head restraint according to claim 1, characterized in that in the head restraint half shell (2), arranged rearwardly in the travel direction, a second frame (14′) is provided in the plastic cage (6) for receiving a component (16′) of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and at least one hydrogen cartridge for additional energy generation. 